For the Cincinnati Reds all-star it was Scott Thorman, another left-handed hitting first baseman.

"He signed for all that money and received all that attention when he went in the first round and wasn't that far from where I lived," Votto told reporters Monday at Arrowhead Stadium during the National League players briefing.

"Scott Thorman was the phantom I was chasing, drafted 27th overall, received $1.2-million US signing bonus ... I think."

Thorman was selected 30th overall from Team Ontario — eight picks ahead of Blue Jays second baseman Kelly Johnson. The Cambridge native was given a $1.225-million bonus by Dayton Moore, then the Atlanta Braves scouting director in 2000 and now general manager of the Kansas City Royals.